It’s that time of year: you don’t need your heat anymore, and you’ll be needing your AC very soon. Don’t get too busy enjoying the gorgeous Tennessee springtime. There are things you should be doing! Here’s our checklist of tips on how to make a smooth transition from heating season to cooling season with your HVAC system.
Shut Down Your Heating System
Once you’re certain you won’t need the heat for any last chilly nights, it’s a good idea to shut down your heating system. Electrical components like sensors can continue to consume energy, and if you have a gas furnace, it’s safest to shut off the gas completely. Just switching from “heat” to “off” or “cool” at the thermostat won’t do the trick. Consult your owner’s manual or reach out to us with questions.
Get Air Conditioner Maintenance Done
Spring is the best time for your annual AC maintenance appointment. If you’re not convinced that this is critical, let us explain why. Dusty buildup and lack of lubrication lead to overheating, friction, and wear and tear. This means your air conditioner will be less efficient, less effective, and more likely to require repair in the coming months.
Your maintenance technician will clean the whole system and lubricate moving parts. They’ll also inspect every component, indoors and out, catching tiny concerns and remedying them before they turn into serious issues or cause a breakdown. And they’ll also test all the electrical components, which is important for both efficiency and safety.
Air Conditioning Maintenance to Do Yourself
There is one thing you should be doing in addition to having a professional perform annual maintenance. You should be cleaning or swapping out your AC air filter once a month while you’re using the system heavily (or every few months when you’re using it more lightly) to help keep the AC coils clean.
Prepare Your Home
Switching the direction of your ceiling fans is an important tip for maximizing comfort and efficiency. In the winter, they should spin clockwise. Switch them to spin counterclockwise for the summer. Also, don’t forget that the same weatherizing tips that keep heat in during the winter will also keep your cool air in during the summer, so keep those drafts sealed up.
If You Have a Heat Pump
Your heat pump has a component called a reversing valve. When you switch your thermostat to cooling, the heat pump should automatically reverse the direction the refrigerant is flowing, to carry heat out of your home instead of bringing it in. If this doesn’t work, you may have a stuck reversing valve. You need HVAC service in Brentwood, TN. It’s often a simple matter of replacing the solenoid.
Because a heat pump works year-round, doing the job of both a heating system and an air conditioner, it should have twice-a-year maintenance. So don’t neglect to schedule an appointment to have a heat pump checkup just because you had it done last fall.
Covenant Heating and Cooling is your trusted resource for heating and cooling in Nashville, TN. We are “Dedicated to the Promise of Serving You!” Contact us today.